Machine for flanging manholes in boilers



(No Model.)

C. P. HIGGINS. MAGHINB FOR PLANGING MANHOLBS IN BOILBRS, sw.

No. 558,072. PatentedApr. 14., 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CAMPBELL P. HIGGINSOF ROSELLE, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINFOR FLANGING MANHOLES IN BOILERS, &`C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,072, dated April14, 1896. Application filed J'uly 24,1895. Serial No'l 556,991. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom tim/ay concern:

Be it known that I, CAMPBELL P. HIGGINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Roselle, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for FlangingManholes in Boilers, &c. of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists ina machine having certain features ofconstruction and arrangement, hereinafter described and claimed, wherebyHanging manholes in boilers, &c., can be more expeditiously andsatisfactorily performed than has heretofore been the case.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in vertical section asufficient portion of the machine for an understanding of the invention,a part of a boiler or drum to be operated upon being shown in positionthereon preparatory to iianging the manhole therein. Fig. 2 represents asimilar view with the parts in the position they assume when theiianging has been completed. Fig. 3 shows in side view and partialsection one of the formers with which the flanging is effected. Fig. 4represents a top view ofthe same. Fig. 5 represents a top view of theinterior of the drum after the manhole has been flanged.

The machine is intended to be operated by hydraulic pressure, and has abase or body A, provided with a cavity a for the admission of water, asthrough a duct a', in which cavity is arranged a piston B, a suitablepacking, as at c, being employed to prevent the escape of the wateraround the piston.

The piston B is furnished with a central hole b, through which passes arod C, that is secured at its lower end to the base A. A packing d isattached to the piston surrounding said rod to prevent the escape ofwater through the hole, and the rod is preferably packed at d in orderthat water may not escape around the lower end thereof. Upon the upperend of the piston is secured a male former E having a hole therein forthe passage of the rod C, the upper or entering portion'c of which isshaped to fit the initial opening or hole (as an oval one, shown bydotted lines a: in Fig. 5) that has been made in the boiler or drum F,which hole is to be expanded and the material around the same tobeformed into a flange f. Below the part e of the former is afrusto-conical portion e', which acts to expand the hole and produce theflange, and below this part is preferably a portion e2, having averticalperiphery. Detachably secured to the upper end of the rod is ahead-block or backing-block G, which may becircular, oval, or of othersuitable form in transverse outline, and combined therewith is a femaleformer H in the shape of a ring loosely surrounding the rod C, theinterior outline of which is the same in shape as the outline of theflange to be formed.

Preferably there is combined with. the flange fa reinforcing-piece .I,having an initial shape in transverse section such as shown in Fig. l,the portion j of whichis bent into a vertical position, as shown in Fig.2, during the flanging of the manhole K.

The operation of the machine is substantially as follows: The piston Bbeing in its lowermost position, and the head-block G and female formerH being detached, the boiler or drum F is placed over the machine andthe portion e of the male former E is inserted into the initial openingx, that has been made in the drum. The reinforcingpiece J is then passedover the upper end of therod C and adjusted in position on the drum,whenl the former H is placed upon said piece and the head-block G isscrewed upon the rod O, thereby clamping the former H and piece J inplace. Tater is nowforced through the duct a into the cavity a, and thepiston B, with its attached male former E, is moved upward, therebycausing said former to eX- pand the hole and force the materialsurrounding the same into the form of a flange f, the portion j of thepiece J being bent upward at the same time, as shown in Fig. 2. Afterthe Hanging has been completed the head-block and former H are removed,when the hanged drum can be taken off.

Although I prefer to make the former I-I separate from the block Gr, soas to use various formers with the said block, yet it will be readilyunderstood that such former and block may be integral, if desired, itonly being necessary to allow the rod C to pass IOO down to clamp theformer upon the drum to with an adjoining frustoeonieal portion for 15be flanged. A expanding. the hole and langngl up the ma- What I claim asmy invention, and desire terial surrounding the same; a stationary rodto secure by Letters Patent, ispassing loosely through said piston and 5l. The combination of a piston Carrying a former; a second formerloosely surrounding former; a stationary rod passing loosely said rodand adapted to 'cooperate with the 2o through the saine; as'eoond formersurroundrst former; and a detachable head-block ing said rod and adaptedto cooperate with secured to the rod and backing the second the firstformer; and a backing-block deformer, substantially as set forth.

Io tachabl secured to the rod substantiall. as l v and forxthe purposespecified. y CAMPBELL P' HIGGIB s' 2. The Combination of a pistoncarrying' a y Vitnesses: former having its entering'portion shaped toROBERT HALLIBAY, fit the hole to be expanded, and provided GEO LITTELL.

